Mets' Dillon Gee may have surgery for artery damage

Dillon Gee survived the first round of treatment on the blood clot in his shoulder, but the next round may bring down the curtain on Gee’s third season in Queens.

Gee reportedly will have surgery Friday to repair artery damage in that right shoulder after the clot was dissolved with a catheter, according to ESPN. The report said it could be six to eight weeks before Gee is cleared to start throwing again, a timetable that would nudge him toward September.

The Mets stood by a statement they put out earlier in the day, which said Gee was scheduled to be discharged from New York-Presbyterian Hospital on Tuesday. It said Gee still was evaluating his options, one of which was surgery.

With Gee out, the Mets likely will begin their search for another starter. Whether they pluck that starter from their minor league system (Matt Harvey?) or from another major league team remains to be seen.

At the All-Star Game in Kansas City, Mo., manager Terry Collins said Miguel Batista will take Gee’s slot in the rotation. But it’s unlikely the Mets – just a half-game out of a wild-card spot – would be content to use Batista as a permanent answer.

Gee was 6-7 with a 4.10 ERA in 17 starts this season. He is an innings eater, a righty who already had thrown 109 2/3 pre-All-Star break innings. Gee is the second major injury victim on the Mets’ staff this season, joining Mike Pelfrey, who underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this year.